When disaster strikes, the Red Cross is quick to respond. Volunteers are mobilized in the blink of an eye — which is about the time it took to sell every ticket to a ball celebrating the organization’s 100th anniversary in Colorado.

Chaired by Brian and Tisha Shuller, the Century of Champions Red Cross Ball brought 1,200 people to the Sheraton Denver Downtown on March 22; a good number of them had been involved one way or another in dealing with the floods and fires that have devastated Colorado in the past couple of years.

The Shullers worked hand-in-hand with Deirdre Wildman in creating a grand experience that had about as many special elements as it did guests: music by Spinphony, Club Femme, Colorado Children’s Chorale and the Jerry Barnett Xperience; conversation pits scattered throughout the reception area; huge stretches of red carpet; shimmering crystal “curtains” and acres of red flowers; short ribs and garlic-butter roasted prawns for dinner and birthday cake from Gateaux for dessert.

The Preparedness Award went to the Littleton Public Schools Security and Emergency Planning Team; a Lifesaver Award was given to Doug Schellinger of the Denver Treasury Division for his lifesaving efforts when a co-worker stopped breathing at her desk; and the International Humanitarian Services Award was accepted by Vicki and Steve Kurzban on behalf of their teenage son, Simon, for his volunteer efforts during Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Simon is volunteering in Nicaragua.

In addition, the Military Hero Award went to the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Carson, a group of Army aviators who flew daring rescue missions to help evacuate more than 1,000 people during September’s floods, and who also saved lives during the Black Forest fire by aiding with fire suppression and volunteering their time with the Red Cross.

Receiving the Disaster Services Award were Connie and Neil Sullivan, owners of the St.Vrain Market; Lyons Fire Protection District Chief J.J. Hoffmann and Boulder County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Kevin Parker, whose combined efforts before, during and after the 2013 floods saved countless lives in the town of Lyons.

Guests included former Gov. Bill Ritter; U.S. Sen. Mark Udall; U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter; Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; former U.S. Ambassador to Finland Marilyn Ware; Karen Nakandakare, diversity program manager for CH2M Hill; Kaiser Permanente’s Simone Ross and her husband, Ryan, dean of student development and retention services at Community College of Denver; former Bronco Reggie Rivers, who led the evening’s special appeal; and Ralph and Anne Klomp, whose Trice Jewelers donated the 2-carat diamond that was one of two items in the evening’s grand- prize drawing. The other was a trip to Monaco.

Wonderbound (formerly Ballet Nouveau Colorado) has a bunny rabbit for a logo, thus the theme for a fundraising gala held at Junction Box. To see pictures taken at the Hare Ball, please visit denverpost.com/seengallery.

Joanne Davidson was The Denver Post's society editor for 29 years before retiring in July 2015. She quickly discovered she wasn't ready for the rocking chair, so she dusted off her evening gowns and returned to the paper as a freelance reporter, writing feature stories and covering charitable fundraising events in the metro area.